It’s time for a new round-up of tech news! From TikTok entering the trivia chat to Amazon’s robo-taxi and more, we have you covered. Read on for the major headlines happening in the world of media, science, and technology.
Trek Debuts New Electric Cargo Bikes for Families
Trek has introduced two new electric cargo bikes. The Fetch Plus 2 and Fetch Plus 4 are here to bring family fun in the form of a bike. Likewise, the two models differ significantly. The Fetch Plus 2 features an elongated rear rack that can carry children, cargo, or a combination of both. The Fetch Plus 4, however, is a box bike with a lengthy wheelbase and a roomy cargo space at the front. “Kids were the center point of when we first started designing these,” said Eric Bybee, a senior mechanical design engineer at Trek. “We realized that when a family is going out to buy one of these bikes, the kids have to be the focus.”
TwitchCon Says Farewell to San Diego with New Location Announcement
TwitchCon’s host cities for its upcoming event have been revealed by Twitch. Paris is scheduled to host TwitchCon EU on July 8th and 9th, while TwitchCon US will be held in Las Vegas in October. In the previous year, Twitch hosted live, in-person events in San Diego and Amsterdam. This shift in venue may only be temporary, as Twitch has returned to San Diego in the past, hosting events there in 2019 after previous locations in San Jose and Long Beach, California.
TikTok to Launch $500,000 Live Trivia Contest
TikTok has announced the launch of live trivia games, following HQ’s footsteps. The trivia games will take place through daily live streams, and participants can join in from February 22 to February 26. To incentivize players, TikTok is offering a cash prize pool of $500,000 that will be divided among the winners. According to TikTok, the trivia categories will include lifestyle, beauty, sports, music, and John Wick questions. The event is sponsored by Lionsgate and its upcoming film John Wick: Chapter 4. Like HQ, TikTok has brought on a live host to make the quizzes more engaging. James Henry, a popular TikTok content creator whose skits frequently go viral, will host the trivia rounds. Likewise. players will have the opportunity to interact with him, according to TikTok.
Apple mixed reality headset to possibly debut at WWDC
According to Bloomberg, Apple is planning to unveil its mixed-reality headset at this year’s WWDC. Apple has not yet announced the date for WWDC, but the event is typically held in early June. The launch was postponed due to hardware and software issues that need to be resolved. In addition, Dan Riccio, Apple’s former hardware chief who took over the company’s AR/VR projects in 2021, has reportedly become more involved. Features may include advanced hand tracking, realistic renderings of Facetime calls, and more. Apple intends to sell the headset for around $3,000. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tesla to Open EV Chargers to Non-Tesla Vehicles
This week, new information was disclosed regarding Tesla’s plan to expand its Supercharger network to electric vehicles not made by Tesla. The White House surprisingly provided the public with details about this revolutionary plan. Tesla will enable 7,500 Supercharger stations to be used by non-Tesla EVs by the end of 2024. These newly available chargers will be situated across the United States and will consist of “at least 3,500 new and existing 250 kW Superchargers situated along major highways,” in addition to a yet-to-be-disclosed number of “Level 2 Destination Charging” stations located at venues such as hotels and restaurants in both urban and rural areas.
Amazon Robo-Taxi Hits the Road
Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company Zoox has announced its unique driverless vehicle. The vehicle received approved to carry passengers on public roads in California. This marks the first time in history that a purpose-built robotaxi has operated autonomously with passengers and without manual controls. Zoox is making strides by introducing an innovative new kind of vehicle that is unlike a traditional car. Despite the significant milestone, the vehicle is restricted to a limited area in Foster City, California, where it is headquartered. Likewise, it operates under specific limitations, such as being restricted to a maximum speed of 40 mph. Additionally, it only operates on Saturdays and Sundays during daylight hours, and not during adverse weather conditions.